Stopping cancer spread 'within reach'

Scientists have identified an enzyme which they believe is responsible for the spread of cancer around the body.

Research by a team at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry published in Cancer Research journal shows the enzyme phospholipase Cy1 (PLCy1) plays a crucial role in the ability of cells to spread from a primary site to elsewhere in the body.

This process, known as metastasis formation, has long fascinated scientists seeking to understand the molecules which cause it.

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Now it has been established that the enzyme phospholipase is required for breast cancer cell invasion and activation of the protein Rac1.

The team revealed a functional link between PLCy1 and Rac1 that provides insight into processes regulating cell invasion.

'PLCy1 is critical for metastasis formation, and development and inhibition of this enzyme has a therapeutic potential in the treatment of metastasis dissemination,' Professor Falasca said.

'The simple fact is that if you stop metastasis, you stop cancer from killing people. We now need to focus on developing drugs that can block PLCy1.'

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